Dealing With
Depression, Stress and Anxiety

It is recorded in Musnad Ahmad and Sahih Abu Hatim on the authority of ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said,

"Whoever was afflicted with grief and distress and says (see the following Dua), Allah, the Exalted and Ever-Majestic, will remove his grief and will change his sorrow into happiness." It was said, "O Messenger of Allah! (Do) we have to learn these words?" He said, "Yes, whoever hears them should learn them."

“O Allah, I am your slave, the son of your slave. My forelock is in Your Hand. Your judgment of me is inescapable. Your trial of me is just. I am invoking You by all the names that You call Yourself, that You have taught to anyone in Your creation, that You have mentioned in Your Book, or that You have kept unknown. Let the Qur’an be delight of my heart, the light of my chest, the remover of my sadness and the pacifier of my worries.” (Source: Musnad Ahmad # 1/391)

ibn Al-Qayyim provided the following commentary about this hadith and Dua in his book Al-Fawwaid. The commentary below focuses on the following sentences of the supplication (Dua):

The start of the supplication ("I am Your slave, the son of Your servant, and the son of Your maid servant") indicates submission and full compliance to Allah, besides the confession of being His servant along with his forefathers (includes the forefathers of the supplicant until we reach Adam and Eve.)

The confession shows dire need of Allah and infers that the supplicant is submissive, obedient, and forbearing. He acts according to his submission to Allah, not according to his feelings of self-sufficiency. Allah, the Almighty says, which means, "And the slaves of the Most Beneficent (Allah) are those who walk on the earth in humility and sedateness…" (Quran, Surah AI-Furqan:63)

It indicates full submission, compliance, and repentance to Allah, as well as being obedient to one’s Lord and avoiding His prohibitions, depending on Him, seeking His help and support, seeking refuge in Him from evil, and finally being related to Him with feelings of love, fear and hope.

It also indicates, "I am Your slave in all cases, whether young or grown up, living or dead, obedient or disobedient, in a good condition or otherwise (i.e. being afflicted in the soul, heart, tongue or bodily organs)."

It means, "I am all Yours, both my money and myself," for the servant and all that which he possesses belong to his master.

It also means, "You are the one who bestowed all those blessings upon me, so those blessings are really Yours."

It also includes, "I can’t act freely in that which You granted me, either my money or myself, except by Your orders. This is because no servant can behave freely except with his master’s permission. I can neither hurt nor benefit myself, and I possess no power (of causing) death, nor (of giving) life, nor of raising the dead.”

So, if he really believes in all that which was previously mentioned, then he has confessed his full submission to Allah.

“You have control over me.” (Allah Controls Our Souls)

The sentence (in the Dua), "My forelock is in Your hands," means, "I cannot act freely as far as my soul is concerned," for how can he act freely when his soul is possessed by his Lord, his forelock is in His hands, his heart is between two of His fingers, and moreover, his death, life, happiness, misery, good-condition, and affliction are in the charge of his Lord, the Exalted? By no means is the servant in charge of himself. The master owns him, and his forelock is in the grasp of a powerful and mighty ruler.

Whenever the servant of Allah confesses the fact that his forelock and the forelock of all other servants are in the grasp of Allah (i.e. under His control), he will neither fear nor aspire to any worldly sovereign nor will he overestimate them, because he knows quite well that they are but subdued servants, whose destiny is controlled by Allah. Whoever confesses this fact, surely will stand in need of Allah and whenever he witnesses the reality of other people, he will neither overestimate them nor exaggerate in seeking their support. In this way, his belief, trust and submission will be turned to Allah alone.

This is the reason behind Prophet’s Hud’s speech to his people when he said in the Quranic verse:

"I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving (living) creature but He has grasp of its forelock. Verily, my Lord is on the Straight Path (the truth)" Quran (Surah Hud: 56).

“Your Judgment is executed on me. Your Decree on me is just.”

The sentence, "Your Judgment is executed on me. Your Decree on me is just," implies two themes. The first theme refers to the execution of His judgment on His servant.The second theme on the other hand implies praising Him that His Decree is just, in addition to the fact that Allah, the Exalted, is the Dominion, and that to Him belong all praise and thanks. This is also what Prophet Hud referred to in the verse above: "There is not a moving (living) creature but He has grasp of its forelock," and also his words, "Verily, my Lord is on the Straight Path (the truth)."

In other words, despite the fact that Allah is the Dominion, the Almighty and the Controller of the destiny of His servants as their forelocks are in His grasp, yet He is on the straight path. He is the Just One, Who oversees His servants’ affairs justly. He is on the straight path in His words, His actions, His judgment, His destiny, His commandments, His prohibitions, His rewards and His punishment. His verses are truthful, His Judgment is correct, and His commandments are beneficial. He prohibited all that which is evil and mischievous. His reward descends upon those who deserve His mercy and grace. His punishment descends upon those who deserve torment by means of His Justice and wisdom.

"I ask you by each Name of Yours …" (Invocation using the Names of Allah)

This expression is an invocation with all the Names of Allah whether they are known or unknown. It is allowable in the Sight of Allah, as it is an invocation with the Attributes of Allah, which refer to the connotations of His Names.

“Make Quran the Spring (delight) of my heart, the light of my chest, the eliminator of my sorrow, and the remover of my worries)”

In this expression, the word ‘spring’ means “rain”, which brings life to earth. The Quran is compared to rain because it revives the hearts. The slave when making this Dua, makes a similarity between water, which is the cause of life, and between light, which is the cause of brightness. So the supplication implies that the heart is revived (elimination of worries and sorrow) by the spring of the Quran, for it is the light of the chest, a concept, which combines life and light. Allah, the Almighty says:

“Is he who was dead (without Faith by ignorance and disbelief) and We gave him life (by knowledge and Faith) and set for him a light (of Belief) whereby he can walk amongst men, like him who is in the darkness (of disbelief, polytheism and hypocrisy) from which he can never come out?…” Quran (Surah Al-Anaam: 122).

Stress is life. Stress is anything that causes mental, physical, or spiritual
tension. There is no running away from it. All that matters is how you deal with
it. This article does not deal with the factors of stress, anxiety, and
depression, nor is it a clinical advice. If you feel depressed, you are not
alone. It has been estimated that 75 to 90 percent of all visits to primary care
physicians in America are for stress-related problems. This is why it is wise to
consult a doctor if you are having physical symptoms of stress. However, here
are some tips that can help from a spiritual perspective. Please send us your
feedback so that we can improve this article Insha Allah.

Torture. Beatings. Loss of property. The death of loved ones. These were just
some of the enormous challenges the Muslims of Makkah faced in the seventh
century following their acceptance of Islam in fiercely tribal and polytheistic
Makkah.

Detention. Harassment. Beatings. Discrimination. Loss of Job. Profiling. Hate
Crimes. Constant media attention. Surveillance. These are just some of the
challenges Muslims in America today face, post-9/11. Like our predecessors in
Makkah, we have begun to face great stress, anxiety, and pressure, more than
ever in our recent history on this continent, although Muslims who were brought
here as slaves faced worse than what we can even imagine.

Ask Him. He Listens: Dua

Turn each anxiety, each fear and each concern into a Dua (supplication). Look at
it as another reason to submit to God and be in Sajdah (prostration), during
which you are closest to Allah. God listens and already knows what is in your
heart, but He wants you to ask Him for what you want. The Prophet said: Allah is
angry with those who do not ask Him for anything (Tirmidhi).

The Prophet once said that in prayer, he would find rest and relief (Nasai). He
would also regularly ask for God’s forgiveness and remain in prostration during
prayer praising God (Tasbeeh) and asking for His forgiveness (Bukhari).

Allah wants you to be specific. The Prophet advised us to ask Allah for exactly
what we want instead of making vague Duas. Dua is the essence of worship (the
Prophet as quoted in Tirmidhi).

"Call on your Lord with humility and in private: for Allah loveth not those who
trespass beyond bounds. Do not make mischief on the earth, after it hath been
set in order, but call on Him with fear. And longing (in your hearts): for the
mercy of Allah is (always) near to those who do good" (Quran 7:55-56).

Tie your Camel: Do your Part

One day Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, noticed a Bedouin
leaving his camel without tying it. He asked the Bedouin, "Why don't you tie
down your camel?" The Bedouin answered, "I put my trust in Allah." The Prophet
then said, "Tie your camel first, then put your trust in Allah" (Tirmidhi).

Muslims must never become fatalistic. Although we know only Allah is in control
and that He has decreed all things, we are each responsible for making the right
choices and doing the right thing in all situations of our lives. We must take
action (link to planning articles on SV). We must work to alleviate the
hardships we, our families and our communities face.

Ask yourself the following questions if you are worried about the state of the
world: are you part of the peace movement? Is your Masjid part of the peace
movement? Are you part of an interfaith group with an agenda of peace and
justice? Are you working with a group fighting discrimination? If your answer is
no, it is time that you sat down to plan your share of time and money in finding
solutions to the problems you face. "Verily Allah does not change men’s
condition unless they change their inner selves" (Quran 13: 11).

Turn each worry into a Dua and each Dua into an action plan. That will show your
commitment to your request and will focus your energy in the right direction.

Remember that human responsibility is limited

While we need to carry out our duty to the best of our abilities, always
remember that you don't control the outcome of events. Even the Prophets did not
control the outcome of their efforts. Some were successful, others were not.
Once you have done your duty, leave the results to Allah. Regardless of the
results of your efforts, you will be rewarded for the part you have played.

However, never underestimate your abilities. Understand the concept of Barakah
(blessings from Allah) and remember that Allah can and Insha Allah will expand
them if you are sincerely exerting your energies for the right path.

Leave the world behind you five times a day

Use the five daily prayers as a means to become more Hereafter-oriented and less
attached to this temporary world. Start distancing yourself as soon as you hear
Adhan, the call to prayer. When you perform Wudu, keep repeating Shahada, the
declaration of faith, as water drops slip down your face, hands, arms, and hair.
When you stand ready to pray, mentally prepare yourself to leave this world and
all of its worries and stresses behind you.

Of course, Shaytan will try to distract you during prayer. But whenever this
happens, go back and remember Allah. The more you return, the more Allah will
reward you for it. Also, make sure your Sajdas (prostrations) are talking Sajdas,
in which you are really connecting to God and seeking His Mercy, praising Him,
and asking His forgiveness.

Seek help through Sabr (Patience)

Seek help through Sabr and Salat (Quran 2:45). This instruction from Allah
provides us with two critical tools that can ease our worries and pain. Patience
and prayer are two oft-neglected stressbusters. Sabr is often translated as
patience but it is not just that. It includes self-control, perseverance,
endurance, and a focussed struggle to achieve one’s goal. Unlike patience, which
implies resignation, the concept of Sabr includes a duty to remain steadfast to
achieve your goals despite all odds.

Being patient gives us control in situations where we feel we have little or no
control. ‘We cannot control what happens to us but we can control our reaction
to our circumstances’ is the mantra of many modern-day self-help books. Patience
helps us keep our mind and attitude towards our difficulties in check.

Excuse Me! You are Not Running the World, He is.

It is important to remind ourselves that we don’t control all the variables in
the world. God does. He is the Wise, the All-Knowing. Sometimes our limited
human faculties are not able to comprehend His wisdom behind what happens to us
and to others, but knowing that He is in control and that as human beings we
submit to His Will, enriches our humanity and enhances our obedience (Uboodiah
in Arabic) towards him. Read the story of the encounter of Moses with the
mysteries behind God’s decision (Quran: 18:60-82). Familiarize yourself with
God's 99 Names, which are also known as His Attributes. It is a powerful way of
knowing Him.

"God-there is no deity save Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsistent Fount of
All being. Neither slumber overtakes Him, nor sleep. His is all that is in the
heavens and all that is on earth. Who is there that could intercede with Him,
unless it be by His leave? He knows all that lies open before men and all that
is hidden from them, whereas they cannot attain to aught of His knowledge save
that which He wills them to attain. His eternal power overspreads the heavens
and the earth, and their upholding wearies Him not. And He alone is truly
exalted, tremendous." (Quran 2:255).

The Prophet recommended reading this verse, known as Ayat al kursi, after each
prayer, Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. Once Ali, may Allah be pleased
with him, approached the Prophet during a difficult time and he found the
Prophet in Sajda, where he kept repeating "Ya Hayy Ya Qayyum", words which are
part of this verse.

Birds Don’t Carry their Food

Allah is al Razzaq (the Provider). "How many are the creatures that carry not
their own sustenance? It is Allah Who feeds them and you, for He hears and knows
all things (Quran 29:60)." By reminding yourself that He is the Provider, you
will remember that getting a job or providing for your family in these
economically and politically challenging times, when Muslims are often the last
to be hired and the first to be fired, is in God’s Hands, not yours. As Allah
says in the Quran: "And He provides for him from (sources) he never could
imagine. And if anyone puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him.
For Allah will surely accomplish His purpose. Verily, for all things has Allah
appointed a due proportion (Quran 65:3).

God controls Life and Death

If you fear for your physical safety and security, remember that only Allah
gives life and takes it back and, that He has appointed the time for it. No one
can harm you except if Allah wills. As He says in the Quran: "Wherever you are,
death will find you out, even if you are in towers built up strong and high!" (Quran
4:78).

Remember that life is short

It's easy to get caught up in our own stress and anxiety. However, if we
remember that our life is short and temporary, and that the everlasting life is
in the Hereafter, this will put our worries in perspective.

This belief in the transitory nature of the life of this world reminds us that
whatever difficulties, trials, anxieties, and grief we suffer in this world are,
Insha Allah, something we will only experience for a short period of time. And
more importantly, if we handle these tests with patience, Allah will reward us
for it.

Do Zikr, Allah, Allah!

"… without doubt in the remembrance (Zikr) of Allah do hearts find tranquility"
(Quran 13:28).

If you commute, use your time in Zikr. Pick any Tasbeeh and do that instead of
listening to the radio or reading the newspaper. Maybe you can divide it up
between Zikr and planning. Personally, I recite the Tasbeeh of "Subhana Allahe
wa be hamdihi, subhan Allahil Azeem" 100 times as I drive. The Prophet taught us
these two short phrases which are easy to say but will weigh heavy on our scale
of good deeds in the Hereafter.

When your heart feels heavy with stress or grief, remember Allah and surround
yourself with His Zikr. Zikr refers to all forms of the remembrance of Allah,
including Salat, Tasbeeh, Tahmeed, Tahleel, making supplication (Dua), and
reading Quran.

By remembering Allah in the way He has taught us to, we are more likely to gain
acceptance of our prayers and His Mercy in times of difficulty. We are
communicating with the only One Who not only Hears and Knows all, but Who can
change our situation and give us the patience to deal with our difficulties.

Relying on Allah: Tawakkul

When you awaken in the morning, thank Allah for giving you life after that short
death called sleep. When you step out of your home, say 'in Your Name Allah, I
put my trust in Allah, and there is no power or force except with Allah' (Bismillahi
Tawakal to al Allah wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah). At night, remember
Allah, with His praises on your lips.

Once you have established a plan you intend to follow through on to deal with a
specific issue or problem in your life, put your trust in the most Wise and the
All-Knowing. "When you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah" (Quran 3:
159).

Rely on Allah by constantly remembering Him throughout your day. When you lay
down to sleep, remember that sleep is death. That is why one of the recommended
supplications before going to sleep is "with Your (Allah's) Name I die and
become alive".

Connect with other human beings

You are not alone. Muslims are not alone. We are not suffering in silence. There
are millions of good people who are not Muslim with beautiful hearts and minds.
These are people who have supported us, individually and collectively,
post-9/11, by checking up on us and making sure we are safe. These are
individuals and organizations who have spoken up in defense of Muslims as we
endured harassment and discrimination.

We must think of them, talk to them, connect with them, and pray for them.
Through our connections, we will break the chain of isolation that leads to
depression and anxiety.

Compare your dining table with that of those who don't have as much as you do

The Prophet said: Whenever you see someone better than you in wealth, face or
figure, you should look at someone who is inferior to you in these respects (so
that you may thank Allah for His blessings) (Bukhari, Muslim).

Next time you sit down to eat, eye the table carefully. Check out the selection
of food, the quality, the taste, the quantity, and then think of the millions of
others who don't have even half as much. The Prophet's Hadith reminds us of this
so that we can appreciate and thank God for all that we have.

Also remember that the Prophet only encouraged us to compare ourselves to others
in two respects: in our Islamic knowledge and level of belief in God (Deen). In
these two areas, we should compare ourselves with those who have more than what
we do.

Say it Loud: Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar: Takbirat & Adhan

Find a corner of a lake, go out in the wilderness, or even stand on your lawn at
your home and call the Adhan with your heart. While driving, instead of
listening to the same news over and over again, say Allahu Akbar as loudly as
you can or as softly as you want, based on your mood. Year ago, I remember
calling Adhan on a Lake Michigan shore in Chicago after sunset as the water
gushed against my knees. I was calling it for myself. There was no one else
accept the waves after waves of water with their symphony. It was relaxing and
meaningful. Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.

Pray in congregation (Jamat)

Pray with other people instead of alone. If you can't pray all five prayers in
congregation, at least find one or two prayers you can pray with others. If you
are away, establish Jamat in your own family. During the Prophet's time, even
though the Muslims endured great persecution, including physical beatings, they
would sometimes meet on the side of a mountain or valley and tried to pray
together. This is a great morale booster.

How is your Imam's Dua?

Does the Imam at your local mosque make Dua silently or out loud? Ask him to
supplicate with the whole congregation. Suggest Duas for him to make. Ask him to
make Dua for other people.

Work for the Unity of Muslims

Bringing Muslims together will not only help the Muslims, but it will also
encourage you to focus your energies on something constructive versus zeroing in
on and consistently fretting about difficulties you are going through.

Invite Muslims from other ethnic groups to your functions. Visit Masjids other
than yours in your city. When you meet a Muslim leader, after thanking him for
his efforts, ask him what he is doing for Muslim unity. Ask Imams to make Dua
for this. These are just small ways you can help yourself and the Muslim
community.

Sleep the way the Prophet slept

End your day on a positive note. Make Wudu, then think of your day. Thank Allah
for all the good things you accomplished, like Zikr and Salat. Ask yourself what
you did today to bring humanity together and what you did to help Muslims become
servants of humanity. For everything positive, say Alhamdu lillah (Praise be to
Allah). For everything negative say Astaghfirullah wa atoobo ilayk (I seek
Allah's forgiveness and I turn to You [Allah]). Recite the last two chapters of
the Quran, thinking and praying as you turn on your right side with your hand
below your right cheek, the way the Prophet used to sleep. Then close your day
with the name of Allah on your tongue. Insha Allah, you will have a good,
restful night.

Begin the Day on a Positive Note

Get up early. Get up thanking God that He has given you another day. Alhamdu
lillahil lazi ahyana bada ma amatana, wa ilaihin Nushoor (Praise be to Allah Who
gave us life after death and unto Him will be the return). Invest in an audio
tape driven alarm clock so you can get up to the melody of the Quran. Or Let
Dawud Wharnsby's joyful notes put you in a good mood. Sing along if you like.
Develop your to do list for the day if you didn't do it the night before. Begin
with the name of Allah, with Whose name nothing in the heavens or the earth can
hurt you. He is the Highest and the Greatest. (Bismillahillazi la yazurru maa
ismihi shaiun fil arze wa la fis samae, wahuwal Alee ul Azeem). The Prophet used
to say this after every Fajr and Maghrib prayers.

Avoid Media Overexposure: Switch from News to Books

Don't spend too much time checking out the news on the radio, television or
internet. Spend more time reading good books and journals. When you listen to
the persistent barrage of bad news, especially relating to Muslims nowadays, you
feel not only depressed, but powerless. Cut down media time to reduce your
stress and anxiety. It's important to know what's going on but not to an extent
that it ruins your day or your mood.

Pray for Others to Heal Yourself.

The Prophet was always concerned about other people, Muslims and non-Muslims,
and would regularly pray for them. Praying for others connects you with them and
helps you understand their suffering. This in itself has a healing component to
it. The Prophet has said that praying for someone who is not present increases
love.

Make the Quran your Partner

Reading and listening to the Quran will help refresh our hearts and our minds.
Recite it out loud or in a low voice. Listen to it in the car. When you are
praying Nafl or extra prayers, pick it up and use it to recite portions of the
Quran you are not as familiar with. Connecting to the Quran means connecting to
God. Let it be a means to heal your heart of stress and worries. Invest in
different recordings of the Quran and their translations.

"O humanity! There has come to you a direction from your Lord and a cure for all
[the ills] in men’s hearts - and for those who believe, a Guidance and a Mercy"
(Quran 10:57).

Be thankful to Allah

"If you are grateful, I will give you more" (Quran 14:7).

Counting our blessings helps us not only be grateful for what we have, but it
also reminds us that we are so much better off than millions of others, whether
that is in terms of our health, family, financial situation, or other aspects of
our life. And being grateful for all we have helps us maintain a positive
attitude in the face of worries and challenges we are facing almost daily.

Ideals: One step at a time

Ideals are wonderful things to pursue. But do that gradually. Think, prioritize,
plan, and move forward. One step at a time.

Efforts not Results Count in the Eyes of Allah

Our success depends on our sincere efforts to the best of our abilities. It is
the mercy of Allah that He does not demand results, Alhamdu lillah. He is happy
if He finds us making our best sincere effort. Thank you Allah!

Another Point of View # 2

Islam does not require us to be superhuman. If one experiences negative
feelings, he is encouraged to resist them with positive thoughts and
actions if possible, or to seek professional help if the case is
clinical.

We are required to take charge of our lives since we are accountable for
our deeds and decisions, both for ourselves and for others who will be
affected, and we are not allowed to hate or harm ourselves; instead we
are taught dignity, self respect and protection both as a right and a
duty:

*{And make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction; but do
good; for Allah loves those who do good.}* (Al-Baqarah 2:195)

*{Nor kill (or destroy) yourselves: for verily Allah has been to you
Most Merciful!}* (An-Nisaa' 4:29)

Self hatred results from low self esteem in reaction to feelings of
worthlessness or guilt. In Islam you always have hope of God's mercy
even if you have committed the worst sins:

*{And never give up hope of Allah's soothing mercy: truly no one
despairs of Allah's soothing mercy, except those who have no faith.}*
(Yusuf 12:87)

There is no place for despair because you are encouraged to have
confidence in knowing it is God Himself who is in charge of everything,
the All Seeing, All Knowing, and All Fair and Wise God:

*{… and for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out, and He
provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if anyone
puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will
surely accomplish His purpose: verily, for all things has Allah
appointed a due proportion.}* (Al-Talaq 65:2-3)

You are certain there is no impossible situation which has no solution:

*{So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief: Verily, with every
difficulty there is relief.}* (Al-Sharh 94:5-6)

You also have a simple and effective prescription against grief and
anxiety.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

No person suffers any anxiety or grief, and says this supplication but
Allah will take away his sorrow and grief, and give him in their stead
joy.

O Allah, I am Your slave, son of Your slave, son of Your female slave,
my forelock is in Your hand, Your command over me is forever executed
and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every Name belonging to
You which You named Yourself with, or revealed in Your Book, or You
taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge
of the unseen with You, that You make the Quran the life of my heart and
the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for
my anxiety). (Ahmad) ( same du'aa provided by sheik Yahoo above ).

Another Point of View # 3

Alhamdulillah, here are some dua’a to make when under stress and
experiencing anxiety. They are a means of dispelling fear, of seeking
forgiveness of Allah, seeking His aid, protection and guidance. They are
the words of the Messenger of Allah (sall’allahu alayhi wasallam) and
hence anyone that sincerely makes these dua during times of great need
Allah will always answer the dua of the sincere seeker. May they be of
benefit to us all for there is not a time in the life of a believer when
he or she does not need the protection, guidance and mercy of Allah.

And those that turn to Allah sincerely imploring His aid should know
that in reality it is Allah turning to His servant, for, “When Allah
wants to be good to someone, He tries him with some hardship.” (Abu
Hurairah)

General advice from Prophet Muhammad (sall’allahu alayhi wasallam) when
you are in distress or suffering from anxiety:

In hadith #599 narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas in Sunan Abu Dawood, The
Prophet (peace be upon him) said: If anyone continually asks pardon,
Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress, and a relief
from every anxiety, and will provide for him from where he did not
reckon.

When in distress or difficulty or sorrow:

Source for this dua subsection: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, volume 4, no 128

1. Ibn ‘Abbas reported, “The Prophet, peace be upon him, at times of
sorrow and grief used to supplicate, La ilaha illa Allah Al-’Azim, Al-’Alim,
la ilaha illa Allah, Rabbul ‘arshil ‘Azim, la ilaha illa Allahu,
Rabbus-Samawati wa rabbul ardi wa rabbul ‘arshi karim (There is no god
but Allah, the Mighty, the Forbearing, there is no god but Allah, the
Lord of the mighty throne, there is no god but Allah, the Lord of the
heavens and the earth, and the Lord of the throne of honor)’.” Source:
Bukhari and Muslim.

2. Anas said that when the Prophet, peace be upon him, was faced with a
serious difficulty, he would always supplicate, “Ya Hayyu, ya Qayyumu,
bi-rahmatika astaghithu (O the Living, O the Eternal, I seek help in
Your grace)." Source: Tirmidhi

Abu Hurairah reported that whenever the Prophet, peace be upon him, was
faced with a serious difficulty, he would raise his head to the sky and
supplicate, “Subhan-Allah al-’Azim (glory be to Allah, the Mighty).” And
when he implored seriously and strongly, he would say, “Ya Hayyu, Ya
Qayyum (O the Living, the Eternal One).”Source: Tirmidhi

4. Abu Bakrah reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “The
supplications of distress are, ‘Allahumma rahmataka arju, fala takilni
ila nafsi tarfata ‘ain, wa aslah li sha’ni kullahu, la ilaha illa anta
(O Allah, I hope for Your mercy, so give me not over to my self even for
as little as wink of an eye, and set right all my affairs, there is no
god but You).”Source: Abu Daw’ud

5. Asma, daughter of ‘Amais, reported that the Prophet, peace be upon
him, asked her, “Shall I tell you words that you may say in times of
pain or distress. These are, ‘Allah, Allah, Rabbi la ushriku bihi
shai’an (Allah, Allah, my Lord, I associate none with Him).” Another
narration says that these words should be said seven times. Source: Abu
Daw’ud

6. Sa’d ibn Waqas reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said,
“The supplication made by the Companion of the Fish (Prophet Yunus) in
the belly of the fish was, ‘La ilaha illa anta, subhanaka, inni kuntu
minadh-dhalimin (there is no god but You, You are far exalted and above
all weaknesses, and I was indeed the wrongdoer)’. If any Muslim
supplicates in these words, his supplication will be accepted.”

In another report we read, “I know words that will cause Allah to remove
one’s distress. These are the words (of supplication) of my brother
Yunus, peace be upon him.”Source: Tirmidhi

7. Ibn Mas’ud reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “If
any servant of Allah afflicted with distress or grief makes this
supplication, his supplication will be accepted: ‘O Allah, I am Your
servant, son of Your servant, son of your maidservant. My forehead is in
Your hand. Your command conceming me prevails, and Your decision
concerning me is just. I call upon You by every one of the beautiful
names by which You have described Yourself, or which You have revealed
in Your book, or have taught anyone of Your creatures, or which You have
chosen to keep in the knowledge of the unseen with You, to make the
Qur’an the delight of my heart, the light of my breast, and remover of
my griefs, sorrows, and afflictions‘.” A supplication in these words
will be answered. Allah will remove one’s affliction and replace it with
joy and happiness. Source: Reported by Ahmad and Ibn Hibban

8. Anas reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, used to
supplicate, “O Allah, there is no ease except what You make easy, and
you alone can turn a difficulty into ease.” (Ibn As-sinni) Source:
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, #131

Dua and Qadr (predestination) are both a part of Allah's plan

9. Allah’s Apostle used to say at the time of difficulty, “None has the
right to be worshipped but Allah, the Majestic, the Most Forbearing.
None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the Lord of the
Tremendous Throne. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the
Lord of the Heavens and the Lord of the Honourable Throne.”Source:
narrated by Ibn Abbas in Sahih Bukhari, volume 9, #526.

Remember that sickness expiates evil deeds and wipes out sins

Abu Hurairah narrates that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “When
Allah wants to be good to someone, He tries him with some hardship.”

Abu Hurairah also reports that Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him,
said: “For every misfortune, illness, anxiety, grief, or hurt that
afflicts a Muslim, even the hurt caused by the pricking of a thorn –
Allah removes some of his sins.”

Ibn Mas’ud said: “I visited the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,
while he had a fever. I exclaimed: ‘O Messenger of Allah! You have a
high fever! ‘ He said: ‘My fever is as much as two among you [might
have]. ‘ I asked: ‘Is it because you have a double reward?’ He replied:
‘Yes, that is right. No Muslim is afflicted with any hurt, even if it is
no more than the pricking of a thorn, but Allah wipes off his sins
because of it and his sins fall away from him as leaves fall from a
tree‘.”

Abu Hurairah (r) said: “The Prophet, peace be upon him, remarked: ‘The
example of a believer is like a fresh tender plant; from whichever
direction the wind blows, it bends the plant. But when the wind dies
down, it straightens up again. (Similarly a believer is tested by
afflictions to strengthen his faith and heart, and he remains patient
and firm). And an evil person is like a pine tree which remains hard and
stiff until Allah breaks it whenever He wills.” Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah,
volume 4, #1

Another Point of View # 4

We ask Allaah to bless you with tranquility and peace of mind, and to
take away the stress and worry that you are experiencing, and to grant
you the means of goodness and success. There is a measure of stress when
someone loses a loved one or end up dealing directly with the burdens of
life. All of us vary in our ability to put up with things and try to
overcome them. There are many who have been able to overcome these
problems, and live happy and contented lives. This depends on certain
things for you to follow, ponder and try to put into practice that will
enable you to regain the happiness that you have lost.

1 – Developing a strong relationship with Allaah. That includes
believing that this problem and others happen by the will and decree of
Allaah and that Allaah is more compassionate and merciful towards you
than a mother towards her child, and that His decree is good for His
slave, both in the short and long term. Calamities expiate sin, bearing
them with patience raises one in status, and when Allaah loves His slave
He tests him.

2 – You have two choices: either you can live feeling miserable, worried
and anxious, or you can bear it with patience and seek reward, in the
hope of attaining reward and rising in status. Your sorrow will neither
advance you nor put you back, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “The greatest reward comes with the greatest
trial. When Allaah loves a people He tests them. Whoever accepts that
wins His pleasure but whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath.”
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2396; Ibn Maajah, 4031; classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

3 – Pondering the blessings of Allaah, and striving to show gratitude
for them, and comparing these many blessings with the calamity that
befell you. This opens the heart to contentment. So think of how many
blessings Allaah has bestowed upon you, in your religion, your self,
your health, your wealth and your children. Think of the calamities that
have befallen others. How many men or women are paralyzed, how many
suffer calamities that befall their children, or are tested in their
religious commitment, or suffer sickness, and so on. If you think about
this you will find that you are enjoying blessings for which you are to
be envied. You will realize that there are people who are suffering
greater calamities than you. This should make things easier for you and
make you give praise and thanks, and acknowledge the bounty and mercy of
Allaah.

4 – Thinking about the calamity that has befallen you, and seeing the
blessings that may be hidden therein. How many married men or women
suffer from harsh treatment and abuse from their life-partners and live
a miserable life with them. In this moment of single life, you have been
spared all that, so give praise to Allaah. Although it is not allowed to
stay single forever but for now, you should be thankful that instead of
being in some abusive relationship, you are better off being by yourself
and Insha Allah, very soon will find someone or someone will find you
with whom you will have a happy life.

5 – Filling your time with things that will bring benefit in this world
and in the Hereafter. For example, you could join a centre that teaches
memorization of the Holy Qur’aan, attend religious lectures, read useful
books, learn useful domestic skills such as sewing, job skills, working,
enjoying sports and so on.

6 – Paying attention to the ultimate goal, which is to earn the pleasure
of Allaah and attain His Paradise and be saved from the Fire. This
requires buckling down to hard work and serious effort. That is the
basis of true success and true happiness in life. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):

“And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he
indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of
deception (a deceiving thing)” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:185]

7 – Having certain faith that what is with Allaah is better for you;
that He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy; that He is with
the pious (those who fear Him) and loves those who do good; He rewards
those who are patient and helps the believers, as He says
(interpretation of the meaning):

“Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — while he (or
she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will
give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful
provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to
the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)” [al-Nahl
16:97]

Beware of complaining about Him to His creation, because you are
complaining about the One who has mercy to one who has no mercy. The
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever is
struck by poverty and he goes around telling people about it (and
complaining about it in the hope of receiving help), then his calamity
will not be relieved. Whoever is struck by poverty and he complains to
Allaah about it, Allaah will grant him relief sooner or later.” Narrated
by al-Tirmidhi, 2326; Abu Dawood, 1645; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani
in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

8 – Frequently recite this du’aa’ which was narrated from the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him):

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with
him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: “If a person who is afflicted by anxiety or sorrow says:
‘Allaahumma inni ‘abduka wa ibnu ‘abdika wa ibn ammatika naasiyati bi
yadika maadin fiyya hukmuka ‘adlun fiyya qadaa’uka as’aluka bi kulli
ismin huwa laka sammayta bihi nafsaka aw ‘allamtahu ahadan min khalqika
aw anzaltahu fi kitaabika aw asta’tharta bihi fi ‘ilm il-ghaybi ‘indaka
an taj’al al-Qur’aana rabee’a qalbi wa noora sadri wa jalaa’a huzni wa
dhahaaba hammi (O Allaah, I am Your slave, son of Your slave, son of
Your female slave, my forelock is in Your hand, Your command over me is
forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every
name belonging to You with which You have named Yourself, or, or You
have taught to any of Your creation, or You have revealed in Your Book,
or You have preserved in the knowledge of the Unseen with You, that You
make the Qur’aan the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a
departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety)’, then Allaah will
take away his anxiety and sorrow, and will replace it with joy.”

It was said: “O Messenger of Allaah, should we not learn it?” He said:
“Yes, whoever hears it should learn it.” Narrated by Ahmad; classed as
saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 199

Another Point of View # 5

Yes I believe in my Allah, Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He
is so Loving and Kind that He always fills my heart with peace and
contentment, every time I bow before Him. I feel so cool that it is
difficult for me to walk out of masjid back to home. My blood pressure
subsides and my face shines from inner happiness.

Prayers give me the opportunity to meet the needy and destitute which
enables me to help them, giving me further opportunity to please my God.

In this dog eat dog world, it is an enormous relief to be taken out of
this world and accorded audience with a Higher Being, 5 times a day,
Alhamdo Lillah! Even if there was no reward for it, salat (prayer) by
itself is sufficient reward for every believer.

To me, five times prayers a day is fulfillment of God's promise in the
Bible (Mathew 11:28):

" O' tired of your daily workload, come to me. I will give comfort to
you "

And the promise has been fulfilled in the Final Testament, Holy Quran
(13:29):

" Beware ! comfort of hearts is only in remembrance ( prayers) of Allah
"

We ask Allaah to relieve you of your anxiety and replace it with joy.
Ameen!